Quakers reject recommendations of Trident Commission

Quakers reject recommendations of Trident Commission

Quakers in Britain have expressed strong disagreement with the conclusion of the report published by the Trident Commission on 1 July which says the UK should retain its nuclear deterrent.

Quakers say that Trident is a relic of the Cold War and that the Trident Commission has failed to consider the legal obligations of the UK under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to negotiate in good faith for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The independent cross-party Trident Commission, set up by the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) published their final report on 1 July. (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/20611)

Quakers in Britain strongly disagree with the conclusion that Trident is necessary and urge the Commission to rethink its recommendations.

Welcoming deeper debate around Trident, Helen Drewery, General Secretary of Quaker Peace & Social Witness said: “The Trident Commission has failed to properly consider alternatives to Trident. These are weapons of mass destruction which can never be used and have proved to be a poor deterrent against acts of terror or against recent political events. Trident is a relic of the Cold War.”

Quakers in Britain are disappointed that the report is not expected to address the legal and moral obligations of the UK under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to negotiate in good faith for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Helen Drewery added: “In 1955 Quakers said ‘To rely on the possession of nuclear weapons as a deterrent is faithless; to use them is a sin’. Quakers in Britain hold fast to that statement. We reject the notion that war is inevitable and advocate putting resources into nonviolent ways of solving conflict. Genuine security comes from the recognition of the inherent worth of every person in a society free from the threat of violence.”

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